30. Band of Horses: Cease to BeginBen Bridwell’s magnificent controlled vocal and the melodic instrumentations work perfectly together to create some electrifying and triumphant sensations.
[
review] [
buy]
29. Teenager: ThirteenTeenager have utilized elements from some of the finest music from the past (Joy Division), spiced them up with their own styles, and the result is an outstanding debut record.
Liquid Cement [wicked-cool song]The Good Fight [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
28. Bloc Party: A Weekend in the City
An excellent follow-up to
Silent Alarm. A Weekend in the City is filled with honestly brilliant and unforgettable postmodern lyrics.
Song For Clay [super-wicked-cool song]I Still Remember [super-wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
27. Taken By Trees: Open FieldWorld Waits is the perfect escape album... listen to this album on a set of headphones and it will take you to another dimension.
Sunshine LadyToo Young[
review] [
buy]
26. Liars: Liars
Avant-garde undertone and an extensive range of musical ideas make Liars a highly sophisticated record.
Leather Prowler [super-wicked-cool song]Freak Out [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
25. Okkervil River: The Stage NamesFrom start to finish,
The Stage Names is packed with engaging narratives; it is fascinating, wonderfully passionate, and full of genuine emotions.
Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe [wicked-cool song]John Allyn Smith Sails [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
24. Shugo Tokumaru: ExitExit is as imaginative as a film by Hayao Miyazaki!
Green Rain [wicked-cool song]D.P.O. [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
23. Basia Bulat: Oh, My Darling A fine collection of some very gorgeous tunes.
Snakes And Ladders [wicked-cool song]The Pilgriming Vine [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
22. Wilco: Sky Blue SkyA wonderful balanced mixture of alternative rock, country, soul, and blues makes Sky Blue Sky a calmingly comforting record.
Ps, the cover art for
Sky Blue Sky is also one of my favourites of the year!
Impossible Germany [wicked-cool song]Shake It Off [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
21. The Horrors: Strange HouseStrange House features some fine reinvention of familiar classic rock and punk sound.
Gloves [wicked-cool song]Sheena Is A Parasite [super-wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
20. The Besnard Lakes: The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse
The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse is a musically in-depth record; and it should take any person just one listen to realize that it is a brilliantly crafted work of art!!
Disaster [super-wicked-cool song]Devastation [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
19. Gutevolk: Tiny People Singing Over The Rainbow
Hirono Nishiyama's latest solo project is full of tranquil harmonies, lo-key vocals, and beautiful textualized instrumentations.
[
review] [
buy]
18. Dizzee Rascal: Maths + English
Maths + English carries the best elements taken from
Boy In Da Corner and
Showtime, making it a nearly flawless record!
Sirens [super-wicked-cool song]Temptation [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
17. Spoon: Ga Ga Ga Ga GaYet another ultra indie pop masterpiece by Spoon! The bad perfectly executed ten ultimate pop rock tracks, making
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga the most solid effort by Spoon to date.
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb [wicked-cool song]The Underdog [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
16. Bishi: Nights At The CircusMixing Indian folk music with pop/dance elements makes
Nights At The Circus one of the most unique and original records of the year.
Nights Circus [wicked-cool song]Never Seen Your Face [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
15. The Twilight Sad: Fourteen Autumns And Fifteen WintersAn emotionally pure hearted album.
Cold Days From The Birdhouse [super-wicked-cool song]Talking With Fireworks/Here, It Never Snowed [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
14. The Acorn: Glory Hope MountainA beautifully constructed concept album that’s based around Rolf Klausener’s (lead-singer) mother, Gloria Esperanza Montoya, and her struggles and hardships she experienced growing up in Honduras.
Flood Pt.1 [wicked-cool song]Oh Napoleon [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
13. Plan B: Paint It Blacker, The Bootleg AlbumEarly this year, Plan B released a limited bootleg album that features new and resampled tracks from
Who Needs Action When You Got Words. The perfect samples of rock and alternative songs from The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Larrikin Love, Leonard Cohen, and Radiohead enhances the fact that Plan B is one of the most talented and creative new artists in the world.
Kidz feat Willy Mason (Where the Humans Eat) [super-wicked-cool song]Suzanne feat Leonard Cohen (Suzanne) [super-wicked-cool song][
review] [buy]
12. Menomena: Friend And FoeA magnificent blend of experimental rock with jazz and blues.
Wet And Rusting [wicked-cool song]Weird [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
11. Feist: The ReminderSo wonderfully pleasant!
The Park [wicked-cool song]Intuition [wicked-cool song][review] [
buy]
10. Napoleon IIIrd: In Debt ToThe highly textualized instrumentations as well as ironic and thought-provoking lyrics are why In Debt To is in the top 10.
This Is My Call To Arms [super-wicked-cool song]Hit Schmooze For Me [super-wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
9. Deerhunter: CryptogramsMy love for both the band and the record stands on a very personal level.
Cryptograms [super-wicked-cool song]Spring Hall Convert [super-wicked-cool song][review] [
buy]
8. Klaxons: Myths of the Near FutureA perfect and very innovative record!
Totem on the Timeline [wicked-cool song]Magick [super-wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
7. Radiohead: In RainbowsAn instant Radiohead classic!
All I Need [wicked-cool song]Faust Arp [wicked-cool song][review] [
buy]
6. Good Shoes: Think Before You SpeakWith most songs under three and a half minutes long,
Think Before You Speak is jam-packed with fast and witty pop songs; indeed, it is catchiest album of the year!
Morden [super-wicked-cool song]All In My Head [super-wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
5. PJ Harvey: White ChalkHauntingly gorgeous!!! PJ Harvey has taken a brand new direction on White Chalk: musically, the angry rock guitar melodies are replaced by haunting piano notes whereas vocally, her commanding deep voice is replaced by mesmerizing soft tones as well as unusual high pitches.
Grow Grow Grow [wicked-cool song]The Mountain [wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
4. Patrick Wolf: The Magic PositionThe Magic Position is divided evenly between bright and tragic music and subject matters. The sound and style is in a way, the combination of both
Lycanthropy and
Wind In The Wires.
Overture [super-wicked-cool song]Get Lost [super-wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
3. Great Lake Swimmers: OngiaraA lyrically and vocally stunning record. Yet another astonishing record by Great Lake Swimmers
Your Rocky Spine [super-wicked-cool song]Changing Colours [super-wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
2. Jamie T: Panic PreventionPanic Prevention features a wide musical range that extends from punk and alternative rock to 2-step and reggae. It is loud, witty, and in-your-face; but most importantly, it is an incredibly unique and fresh sounding record.
Salvador [wicked-cool song]Sheila [super-wicked-cool song][
review] [
buy]
1. No Age: Weirdo Rippers
The band’s approach of noise rock with a twist of indie pop, 80s' hardcore punk, and Suicide influenced style projects wonderfully surreal/dreamlike sensations for the listeners. Weirdo Rippers is number 1 becuase it is just a brilliantly solid and engaging record from start to finish!
Everybody's Down [super-wicked-cool song]Loosen This Job [super-wicked-cool song][review] [buy]
***all files expire in 7 days or until bandwidth reaches its limit
My first 08’ record recommendation belongs to Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel, an album by Atlas Sound, aka Bradford Cox’s solo project. Let the Blind is certainly vocally driven like Deerhunter’s Fluorescent Grey EP; it leans more toward the My Bloody Valentine, shoegaze sound while also remaining that eerie but very much enjoyable ambient and psychedelic feel from Cryptograms. I have been listening to Atlas Sound’s debut full-length for the past three weeks now and I still have not distinguished my personal favourites from it. Let the Blind is one of those spectacular albums that does not offer standout songs because it is just so damn great from start to finish. With Atlas Sound, Bradford Cox continues to demonstrate his brilliant ability to experiment with noise, styles and structures while producing engagingly solid songs at the same time.
Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel comes out on February 19th, 2008, pre-order info coming soon
